The Victory Medal WW1 Theatres and dates of eligibility

The Victory Medal 1914 - 1919
Award Criteria.

Royal Navy

Provided the claims are approved by the Admiralty, the medal will be granted to the undermentioned classes who were mobilized and rendered approved service either (i) at sea between midnight 4-5 August, 1914, and midnight 11-12 November, 1918 ; or (ii) on the establishment of a unit within a theatre of military operations -

(a) All officers and men of the R.N., R.M., R.N.A.S., R.I.M., R.N.R., R.N.V.R., R.N.A.S.B.R., and Dominion and Colonial Naval Forces. Trained pilots and observers and men of the R.N.A.S. employed in actual flying from Naval Air Stations at home on oversea patrols will be eligible.

(b) Mercantile Marine officers and men serving under special Naval engagements (Form T.124 and its variants, including T.299) in H.M. Ships of War and Commissioned Fleet Auxiliaries.

(d) Officers and enrolled members of the W.R.N.S.

(e) Canteen staffs who served in a ship of war at sea.

The following services are not approved as qualifying :-

(a) Service in depot ships, except those which go to sea ; boom defence vessels, examination vessels and other craft employed on harbour service.

(b) Service at shore bases and depots, except those within theatres of active military operations.

(c) Services of a temporary and special nature at sea, or in theatres of military operations, e.g., casual inspections and inquiries, purchase of materials, trials, passage, etc.

(d) Service at sea, subsequent to midnight 11-12 November, 1918, except in certain specified cases, with regard to which a further announcement will be made.

Desertion or dismissal with disgrace since the date of the qualifying service forfeits the decoration. The decorations earned by officers and men deceased will be issued to their legatees or next of kin entitled to receive them.

For the purposes of this order the definition of 'theatres of military operations' is as for the Army, with the addition of the following to section (b), paragraph 2, " Balkan Theatre " :—

" Officers and men of the Plymouth and Chatham Battalions R.M.L.I., who took part in the landing at Seddul Bahr and Kum Kale on 4 March, 1915 are eligible."

Army

Provided the claims are approved by the competent military authorities, the medal will be granted to all officers, warrant officers, non-commissioned officers and men of the British, Dominion, Colonial and Indian forces, members of women formations who have been enrolled under a direct contract of service for service with His Majesty's Imperial forces, civil medical practitioners, nursing sisters, nurses and others employed with military hospitals, who actually served on the establishment of a unit in a theatre of war and within the periods as defined below.

Royal Air Force

Provided the claims are approved by the Air Council, the medal will be granted to all officers and airmen who have either:-

(a) Been posted and served with a unit in any theatre of war outside the British Islands, within the periods as defined in the Appendix. (see 'Theatres of War' below )

(b) Served with an operational unit in the British Islands or overseas and have been actively engaged in the air against the enemy.

(d) Served as part of the complement of aircraft-carrying ships. The operational units referred to in paragraph 6 (b) include those employed on the following duties :-

(a) Airships, aeroplanes, kite balloons and seaplanes employed on fleet reconnaissance.

(b) Airships, aeroplanes, kite balloons and seaplanes employed on coast reconnaissance, convoy work and anti-submarine patrols.

The claims of officers, airmen and women who became eligible on account of services rendered with the Royal Navy or Army, excluding the R.N.A.S. and R.F.C., prior to transfer to the R.A.F., will be dealt with under the regulations of the Royal Navy or Army respectively.

THEATRES OF WAR

For the purpose of this Army Order, " theatres of war " are defined as under :-

1. Western European Theatre.—Included all operations in:-

(a) France and Belgium, between midnight 4th/5th August, 1914, and midnight 11th/12th November, 1918.

(b) Italy, between midnight 17th/18th April, 1917 and midnight 11th/12th November, 1918.

2. Balkan Theatre.—Included all operations in:—

(a) Greek Macedonia, Serbia, Bulgaria and European Turkey, between midnight 4th/5th October, 1915 and midnight 11th/12th November, 1918.

(b) Gallipoli and Islands of Aegean Sea, between midnight 24th/25th April, 1915 and midnight 9th/10th January, 1916.

3. Russian Theatre.—Included all operations which took place in Russia*, between midnight 4th/5th August, 1914 and midnight lst/2nd July, 1920.

4. Egyptian Theatre. To include all operations: -

(a) In Egypt, between midnight 4th/5th November, 1914 and midnight 18th/19th March, 1916, but excluding operations for which the Sultan's Sudan medal has been awarded.

(b) Conducted by the Egyptian Expeditionary Force, between midnight 18th/19th March, 1916 and midnight 11th/12th November 1918, but excluding operations for which the Sultan's Sudan medal has been awarded.

NOTES :— (i) Personnel of the Egyptian Army, including British personnel thereof, and personnel of the British Army stationed in Egypt, prior to midnight 4th/5th August, 1914, were eligible for the award of the Victory Medal only if they were employed in Egypt (exclusive of the Sudan), up to midnight 18th/19th March, 1916, on duties which were outside of the normal peace-time work of the Egyptian Army, or of the British Army in Egypt respectively, and for which the need arose from the fact of the above operations being in progress.

(ii) Troops which arrived in Egypt subsequent to midnight 4th/5th August, 1914, and prior to midnight 4th/5th November, 1914, were eligible for the award of the Victory Medal if they served on the establishment of a unit (exclusive of a unit referred to in (i) of these notes) in Egypt (exclusive of the Sudan) between midnight 4th/5th November, 1914 and midnight 18th/19th March, 1916.

(iii) Troops which arrived in Egypt between midnight 4th/5th November, 1914 and midnight 18th/19th March, 1916, are eligible for the award of the Victory Medal if they served on the establishment of a unit (exclusive of a unit referred to in (i) of these notes) in Egypt (exclusive of the Sudan) between these dates.

(iv) The term Egypt (exclusive of the Sudan) is held to mean Egypt north of a line east and west through, but including Assouan.

5. African Theatre.—Included all operations as set forth below, but excluding local military operations against native tribes or rebels, for which the Africa General Service Medal is awarded:

(a) In British East Africa, German East Africa, Portuguese East Africa, Rhodesia, Nyasaland and Uganda, between midnight 19th/20th August, 1914 and midnight 25th/26th November, 1918, within an area bounded as follows:

On the north by the Uganda Railway from the sea to Port Florence (including the whole of all towns actually on the railway), thence along the northern shore of Lake Victoria to the mouth of the Katonga River, thence in a straight line to Mubendi. From Mubendi along the line of the Muzissi River to Lake Albert and along the southern Shore of that lake to the Congo-Uganda boundary.

On the west by the Congo-Uganda boundary and along the western shores of Lake Edward, Lake Kivu and Lake Tanganyika to Moliro; thence by the Northern Rhodesian-Congo boundary to Lake Mweru and along the Luapula River as far as the 12th parallel.
On the south by the 12th parallel to Lake Nyasa, along the western shore of Lake Nyasa to Fort Johnson, and thence by the Shire River to the Zambesi River, and by that river to the sea.

(b) In the Caprivi Zipfel, South-West Africa, by the troops assembled at Sesheke in 1914, under the command of Lieut-Colonel A. E. Capell, D.S.O., and by the scouts on duty about the Okovango River, under the command of Major R. Gordon, D.S.O., in July, 1915.

(c) In German South-West Africa and the 12th and 13th military districts of the Union of South Africa, provided that service was performed on the establishment of a unit in any one of the following forces between midnight 19th/20th August, 1914 and midnight 9th/10th July, 1915.

Northern Force.—Commanded by General the Right Honourable Louis Botha.

"A" Force.—Commanded by Brigadier General H. T. Lukin, C.M.G., D.S.O.

"B" Force, Southern Force and Southern Army. Commanded on different dates by Major-General the Honourable J. C. Smuts and Brigadier-General J. L. van Deventer.

Central Force. Commanded by Brigadier-General Sir D. McKenzie, K.C.M.G., C.B., D S.O.

Eastern Force.—Commanded by Colonel S. A. L. Berrange, C.M.G.

(d) In Kamerum and that part of Nigeria east of a line from the southern extremity of Lake Chad through Maiduguri, Yola, Bakundi, Takum and Ikom (these five places inclusive) and thence eastwards along the Cross River to the Nigeria Cameroons Frontier, between midnight 23rd/24th August, 1914 and midnight 18th/19th February, 1916.

(e) Conducted in French West Africa to the north of the Northern Nigeria Frontier by the Sokoto and Katsena Columns, under the command of Captain J. G. Bruxner-Randall and LieutColonel R. G. Coles, respectively, between midnight 4th/5th January, 1917 and midnight 15th/16th May, 1917.

(f) Within the boundaries of Togoland from midnight 6th/7th August, 1914 to midnight 26th/27th August, 1914.

6. Asiatic Theatres.—Included all operations :—

(a) In Hedjaz, between midnight 4th/5th November, 1914 and midnight 11th/12th November, 1918.

(b) Carried out by the Mesopotamia Expeditionary Force between midnight 5th/6th November, 1914 and midnight 11th/12th November, 1918, and by the Bushire Garrison, as part of such, between midnight 27th/28th June, 1915 and midnight 11th/12th November, 1918.

(c) In South Persia and the Persian Gulf Ports, &c., between midnight 5th/6th November, 1914 and midnight 11th/12th November, 1918.

(d) At Shaik Said (South-West Arabia) on the 10th and 11th November, 1914; and at Persia, on the 14th/15th June, 1915.

(e) Conducted by the Aden Field Force between midnight 2nd/3rd July, 1915 and midnight 11th/12th November, 1918.

(f) In the frontier regions of India, carried out by Forces which actually took the field:—

(i) In the Tochi Valley, including the whole of the North Waziristan Political Agency, between midnight 27th/28th November, 1914 and midnight 27th/28th March, 1915.

(ii) Near Hafiz Kor within the area bounded on the south by the left bank of the Kabul River and on the east by a line from Adozai to Tangi, both places included, under the command of Major-General C. F. G. Young, between midnight 13th/14th and midnight 19th/20th April, 1915; under the command of Major-General F. Campbell, C.B., D.S.O., between midnight 28th/29th August and midnight 10th/11th October, 1915; at Hafiz Kor on 15th November, 1916; and on the Mohmand Blockade line between midnight 29th/30th September, 1916 and midnight 19th/20th July, 1917.

(iii) Carried out by the troops at Katsang, Rastam and Swati, under the command of Brigadier-General N. C. Woodyatt, between midnight 16th/17th August and midnight 31st August/1st September, 1915.

(iv) On the Landakai Ridge north of a line east and west from, but exclusive of, Malakand (a) under the command of Brigadier-General W. G. L. Beynon, C.B., D.S.O., between midnight 20th/21st August and midnight 31st August/1st September, 1915 and (b) on 27th October, 1915, by the Malakand Moveable Column which advanced from Chakdara Camp.

(v) Carried out by the troops which took part in the operations against the Mahsuds in the North and South Waziristan Political Agencies, the Bannu and Dera Ismail Khan Civil Districts and that portion of the Mainwali district which lies Trans-Indus, between midnight 1st/2nd March and midnight 10/11th August, 1917.

(vi) Carried out by troops which took part in operations against the Marris between midnight 17th/18th February and midnight 8th/9th April, 1918, within the following zone:-
Northern Boundary.—From Mangi inclusive (on BostanHarnai Sibi Railway) along railway inclusive to Harnai inclusive; thence along the road Harnai-Loralai-Mekhtar-Kingri-Rakhni Fort Munro-Dera Chazi Khan inclusive, including all parts along the road, except Loralai and troops moving up and down the road from and to Loralai and Fort Sandeman.

Eastern Boundary. River Indus.

Southern Boundary.—Railway Lines from Kashmor inclusive to Jacobabad inclusive.

Western Boundary.—Jacobabad inclusive along railway line all stations inclusive, via Sibi to Mach inclusive; thence a line drawn across country from Mach station to Mangi station. (The troops moving on ordinary relief along line Jacobabad to Quetta will not be considered as having entered the sphere of operations).

(vii) Carried out by troops which took part in the operations in the Chin and Kuki Hills (a) between 30th November/1st December, 1917 and midnight 1st/2nd June, 1918, (b) between midnight 31st October/1st November, 1918 and midnight 15th/16th May, 1919, within the following zones:

Northern Boundary. A line joining Manipur Road Station to Kohima, thence east to Tusu River at point of junction 42 miles east by north from Kohima, thence follow river to junction with Chindwin. Troops at Kindat, Mawlaik and Monywa are also included.

Eastern Boundary. Left bank of Chindwin River.

Southern Boundary.—Latitude 22° from the Chindwin River west to Longitude 93°, with the addition of the tract of country known as the Pakokku Hill Tracts and lying between Latitude 20° and 22° and on both sides of Longitude 94°.

Western Boundary.—Longitude 93° to Lakhipur, thence a line joining Lakhipur to Manipur Road Station.

(viii) At and south of Mastung in the Kalat State between midnight 31st May/1st June, and midnight 10th/11th July, 1915, and between midnight 4th/5th June and midnight 18th/19th August, 1916.

(ix) In the Kachin Hills within an area bounded on the north by latitude 26° 30" on the east by the River Mali Kha from where it cuts 26° 30" to the confluence, and thence by the Irrawaddy until it cuts 25° 15" on the west by longitude 96°; on the south by latitude 25°; between midnight 30th/31st December, 1914 and midnight 28th February/1st March, 1915.

(g) At Tsing-Tau, between midnight 22nd/23rd September and midnight 7th/8th November, 1914.

7. Australasian Theatre. Included all operations against the German Pacific Dependencies, as follows :-

(a) New Britain, from midnight 10th/l1th September to midnight 21st/22nd September, 1914.

(b) New Ireland, from midnight 15th/16th September to midnight 18th/19th October, 1914.

(d) Admiralty Islands, on 21st November, 1914.

(e) Nauru, on the 6th November, 1914.

(f) German Samoa, on 29th August, 1914.

* The term "Russia" is considered to cover the geographical area of the pre war Russian Empire.

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